Key holder



l. GELLER KEY HOLDER June 11, 1946.

Filed Sept. 18, 1945 nvenoz' Z, Isaac Geller fi'arney Patented June 11, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT AOFFICE KEY HULDER Isaac Geller, Portland, Oreg.

Application September 18, 1943, Serial No. 502,957

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a key holder and has for its specific object the provision of a relatively simple, yet eiiicient device for retaining a plurality of key holding devices in a spaced relationship, each of which, however, may be easily and quickly disengaged therefrom. My invention is directed to the same general subject matter as defined in U. S. Patent No. 2,145,477 entitled Key holder, issued to myself January 31, 1939; U. S. Patent No. 2,197,217, entitled Key support and holder therefor, issued` to myself April 16, 1940, and U. S Patent No. 2,197,218, entitled Key retaining and supporting member, issued to myself April 16, 1940.

My present invention denes a structure which may be constructed wholly of stamped or other- Wise formed parts and which may be assembled very quickly. Although a keyholder to which my present invention is directed is adapted to be enveloped in a flexible cover, said cover plays no part therein. Said key holder thus comprises a flat base plate, a retainer adapted to be arranged in face-to-face relation therewith, and having a plurality of claw-like fingers arranged so that the tips thereof are in abutment with said base plate. The cupping of said lingers defines a' closed chamber in which is housed a resilient latch, and knob-like ends of the shanks of key hangers may also be arranged Within said chamber with said shanks extending through the spaces between lingers. The tips of said fingers are snipped off so as to increase the spacing laterally between the tips of the lingers. The latch underlies said enlarged space and when in place tends to prevent the knob-like ends of the shanks lof the key hangers from passing therethru. When said latch is depressed, however, said knob-like end can pass therethru, to physically detach a key hanger from said holder.

Further and other details of my invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the body of the key holder showing the fingers arranged as retracted claws;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the releasable locking device;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plane base plate;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a key case, having a key holder embodying my invention incorporated therewith, and showing a single key secured by a key hanger to said key holder;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing said key holder on substantially larger scale with portions of the releasable locking device shown in dotted outline to illustrate the arrangement thereof with respect to the tips of the fingers forming a part of said retainer;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of my invention in which a single central guide is provided for the latching device instead of guides at each end as the parts are arranged in the rst embodiment thereof; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation of a still further modication of my invention in which `a single central guide issecured in an eye formedin theretainer rather than as arranged between the abutting faces of the retainer and the base plate, as in the rst two embodiments.

A key holder embodying my inventionv comprises a base plate I, a retainer 2, and a releasable elongated locking device 3. These three parts are adapted to be arranged in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5 and secured within a cover 4 by grommets or rivets 5. It is commonto have a folded The base plate is a mere flatpiece of metal having apertures la formed therein, as is shown in Fig. 3. The retainer comprises a vbodyportion 2a which is plane and adapted for face-to-face' engagement with base plate l. Fingers 2b are' joined to said body and are spaced apart by slots 2c. Said retainer resembles a human hand with the body portion being the palm and the fingersy being joined thereto and retracted, so as to formv within said curved fingers a chamber 1, which is closed by base'V plate I. The tips of said 1ingers are snipped off` as at 8.- The slots 2care broader at points 9 and define releasing apertures. Extending through each of said 'slots' is shank Illa of a key hanger Ill. Said slots are of sufcient Width to pass the shank I0abut to retain the knob-like end IDb formed on the extremity of each of said shanks. That is, the said knob-link' ends are adapted to be held within the chamber l, but the key hangers are free to movel through said slot. The locking device 3 is relatively flat and elongated and extends the full width of the retainer 2. It is adapted to lie flatwise across the broadened portion 9 of the slot 2c. Said broadened portions are adapted to pass the knob-like vends of the keyhanger. With the locking device in place, the shanks are not permitted to move into said broadened portions 9, and thus the key hangers are held between the said fingers. The lock- As the parts are arranged, either or both ends@ of the locking device may be depressed. If butone end is depressed, then the key hangers at said end alone may be removed and the key hangers at the other end of the key holder areheld against inadvertent detachment. If, however, both ends of said locking devices are depressed, as would follow., if the flanges l2 were pushed down simultaneously; then all of the,` key hangers c ould hey removed if'desired, tbecausethe locking device would b'e moved out of engagement with the underside of the fingers alongits entire length. Each key hanger is adaptedto hold v,one or more keys l5. The conformation of key hangers is unimportant as long as they are provided with Shanks and enlarged heads,` -Y In Fig. 6 I illustrate a modification of Ymy invention- Arkey-retainer l5l is-adapted to functionoperatively With a locking device l1 arranged substantially .in the samevmanner as heretofore described in connectionwiththe embodiment il lustrated and described. It differs, however, in

that the locking deviceis provided With a central' stemA or guiding member .I8 which is adapted y slidingly to engageagroove l!)y formed 1in the body vo f said retainer. -When the retainer and lockingdevice/ are arranged sothat the retainer is infacefto-face,abutment-With a base, then the lgroove is :closed and Athe guiding member is held-toV reciprocation in said groove. The elongated locking device is held in alinement with the tipsof the vfingers of Ysaid retaineras in the pre-` vious embodiment.I =The ends` of said locking detainer, so that said protruding ends may be engagedfto force theslocking device outof engagementwiththe undersidel of said ngers torinsert or remove,a,key hanger.v Y y, In Fig. 7 I illustrate a still further modification of, my invention in which a .retainer is provided with a. locking device 2|, also having a centrally arranged shank 22. A tongue 23 is formed from the face or b Ody of the retainer 2B vandisadapted to encircle this central shank and,v Vbe. formed thereabout slidably to engagek the latter. In this modiication, such retainer and said locking de,- vice are Aindependent of thev base plate and the locking device will be held in position independ-v ently of `Whether or not a base plate is secured to the retainer. Y In each of these three embodiments of my invention the key holder comprises three main members, a base plate, a retainer and a locking device, for releasably holding a key hanger. The hanger normally is held Within the spaces between the retracted fingers and cannot be removed unless the latch is depressed so that the knob'-V like end of the shank of a keyhanger can be moved into registration with the enlarged terminal portions of a slot. 'I'he base plate in each of these modications is a mere flat fastening plate joined to the retainer key by a fastening means for securing all of said parts Within a cover. I preferably utilize a key hanger, having vice extend beyond 'the lateral marginsiof the rea relatively fiat head, which must be tipped side- Wise as is shown in Fig. 5, to cause the head to pass through the enlarged terminal portion of the slot. This provides a double insurance against inadvertent disengagement of a key hanger from the key holder.

Although I have referred to the retainer and `base, plate as v,separate members. removably secured' togethefr,V I wish ittobefundferstood that I recognize"'that said tvvoVv pieces couldib'emade of a single piece of material, bent about thevmarginal edge of the base. Said pieces Wil1 be inl tegral but they will function in the same manner passingV the heads of `said key hangers, said lock` ing device beingfUrshaped in elevation andV eX- tending longitudinally through the cuppedy portion of said retainer and downwardly Valongthe sides thereof, elastic means for =holding s aidflock-l ing device yieldingly-over the head removing.

apertures iri said retainenand guides formed in the marginal edges of said. retainer iorreceiving the laterally formed end portions of Saidflockf ing device fonpreventing vdisplacement thereof but accommodating reciprocating movement therein to Ipermit said locking device tobe moved.

awayfrorn, said apertures accommodating disen-.

gagement of akey holder` therethru.,

2. A key holder, comprisinga base pl ateafrev tainer, a releasable elongated locking device, and a plurality of key hangers, each. having a shank witha lheadfformed thereon,v said key hangers bef ing releasably engageable with said retainer, said key retainer defining cuppedkey retaining-nm. gers, said; fingers being spaced apart suflicientlyi to pass the Shanks ofsaidhangers but'J to retain the heads -iormed thereon,` said vngers being spacedapart greater `distances over spaced but limited areas to provide removing aperturesrfor passing the heads of said key hangers, said lock ingl devicey having a laterally projecting endfportion and extending longitudinally through the cupped portion of said retainer anddownwardly,

along the sides thereof, elastic means for holding said locking: device yieldingly over the h'ead removing apertures in said retainer, andaguide formed in one marginal edge `of said retainer for receiving the laterally formed end portion or Vsaid locking device for preventing displacement Vthereof but accommodating reciprocating movement therein to permit said lockingl device to be moved away from said apertures accommodating disengagement of a key holder therethru.

3. A key holder, comprising a base pla-te, a re-l tainer, a releasable elongated locking device, and a plurality of key hangers, each having a shank with a head formed thereon, said key h'angers being releasably engageable with said retainer, said,

key retainer deiining cupped key retaining fingers, said fingers being spaced apart sufficiently to pass the Shanks of said hangers but toy retain the heads formed thereon, said fingers being spaced apart greater distances over spaced but limited areas to provide removing apertures for passing the heads of said key hangers, said locking device being U-shaped in elevation and extending longitudinally thru the cupped portion of said retainer and downwardly along the sides thereof, elastic means for holding said locking device yieldingly over the head removing apertures in said retainer, and guides formed in the marginal edges of said retainer for receiving the 10 6 laterally formed end portions of said locking devices for preventing displacement thereof but accommodating reciprocating movement therein to permit said locking device to be moved away from said apertures accommodating disengagement of a key holder therethru, said elastic means centrally engaging said locking device to permit either end to be moved to disengaging position without disturbing the other end.

ISAAC GELLER. 

